OCTOBER MUSIC PICKS for ON TAP MAGAZINE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Henry Rollins at Grosvenor Auditorium
It may seem hard to believe that punk legend Henry Rollins would be having a performance at National Geographic's Headquarters in DC, but the content of his current new book, "Occupants," makes him the perfect candidate for the Society's "Music on...Photography" series. The former Black Flag and Rollins band frontman is an avid world traveller and found himself thrust into the project.

"Many years ago I started working on a collection of photographs for eventual publication," Rollins said. "I do a lot of traveling and as much as I write when I am in these places, a photograph speaks a different language, so I started hauling a camera around with me everywhere I went and documented moments as best as I could."

Ben Folds, Moby, Neko, and Andy Summers from the Police have all been past guests for the "Music on...Photography" series which began last year, featurning professional musicians sharing their photography and thoughts concerning its impact on the world around them. Rollins has always had a unique insight concerning the state of the world and this was a chance for him to include the thoughts in his writing with visual imagery to support it.

"I decided to call the book Occupants," he said. "I figure that's what we are. We get some time on the planet and that's it. I'm not a photographer, just someone with a lot of visas in his passport and a camera on his shoulder. The last thing I wanted was for someone to think I was being pretentious. I thought about what I could do to make the book be more time intensive on my part, so there would be more for the person who endeavored to get the book. I came to the conclusion that I would write something for each photo. In fact, I would write two things: an impression of the photograph and a caption that provided more of the practical information about where the image was captured, et cetera."

Always busy, Rollins is also the host of a new show on the Society's Nat Geo WILD channel called "Animal Underworld." The show focuses on people who have an affinity for different types of animals, whether it is to own or eat. Rollins presentation will be on October 7 at the Grosvenor Auditorium. Later this month, Pattie Boyd, former wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton and inspiration for the songs "Something" and "Layla," will be host for the series on October 12, sharing images of her life with her two famous former husbands.
Starts at 7:30 p.m. $38 Nat. Geog. members/$40 General Public. - Jason Walsh
The Grosvenor Auditorium: 1600 M. St. NW, DC; 202-857-7700; events.nationalgeographic.com/

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20
Gwar at the 9:30 Club
Winter is coming, and Gwar at the 9:30 Club is the first sign. The insanely amazing shock rockers, gods of their own design, will be once again reeking havoc on crowds in DC this October. Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, these early beginnings saw film students that were heavy metal enthusiasts create the unholy stage show that is now Gwar. From their secret lair in Antarctica, led by the most brutal Oderus Urungus, Flattus Maximus, Beefcake the Mighty, and Balsac the Jaws of Death, Gwar will be sure to share their blood-spewing theatrical mayhem that fans have come to expect from the band. The notorious shock metal creatures released their twelfth studio album last year, "Bloody Pit of Horror," on Metal Blade Records following up 2009’s "Lust in Space." GWAR is not a band for the weak of heart, or stomach, as you have to expect the unexpected from one of the craziest stage shows ever executed. Be prepared to duck or run, as you just never know what may come flying into the audience. Adorned in nightmarish armored costumes as sacrifices performed by slaves regularly share the stage, a night with Gwar will never be forgotten, but be sure not to wear your best Sunday clothes. Gwar has continued their campaign of filth, decadence, and destruction for the past three decades proving the immortality of the outfit. "Eons ago, there existed an elite group of chaos warriors who ravaged the galaxy with a boundless hatred of all things alive.” Yes, Gwar is returning to DC, this time with Every Time I Die and Warbeast along for the carnage.
Starts at 7 p.m. $25. - Jason Walsh
9:30 Club: 815 V. St. NW, D.C.; 202-265-0930; www.930.com